Tony Siragusa passed away at the age of 55. There is a time and a place. The Baltimore Ravens held their first mini camp in the spring of 2001. Tony Siragusa wasn't in the meeting room. He was going to make a huge splash. There was a loud noise at the facility. The people ran to the field. The helicopter made a datememe datememe datememe datememe datememe by landing on the 50-yard line. The boisterous 350-pound defensive tackle jumped out and pointed at his right bicep. Sam Adams was a defensive tackle for the Ravens. Billick was sitting with his mouth agape. Siragusa, who died at the age of 55 on Wednesday, may not have made any Pro Bowls or the Ravens Ring of Honor during or after his 12 seasons in the NFL, but he was still a Hall of Fame character. Siragusa was overlooked for his run-stuffing prowess on the field but he made sure everyone saw and heard him in the locker room and in front of cameras. Siragusa would want his teammates to remember him with joy. Matt Stover, who was Siragusa's teammate for five years, said that he would expect a roast at his funeral. He would really like it. Stover was a reliable kicker. Siragusa helped make him one of the most thick-skinned people. The Ravens would send out Stover for a winning kick and he would hear Siragusa curse at him and threaten him from the sideline. The unconventional HOF career of Dick Vermeil.
• Will Joe Mixon catch more passes in 2022?
• What Falcons rookies got from offseason
• Reports on all 32 first-roundersNo holds-barred humor
Siragusa told him not to come back to the sideline if he missed the kick.
Stover was asked if trash talking helped. Stover said it makes him happy.
Stover liked the added pressure that Siragusa gave him. Stover wanted Siragusa to go all-out on him.
The goose mooned him after pulling down his pants.
Siragusa had a good sense of humor. The Ravens didn't score a touchdown for the entire month of October in 2000. The offense didn't reach the end zone in five straight games and the defense didn't give up a lot of points over that time.
Stover said that the Super Bowl wouldn't have been won if it weren't for him. He didn't let it go. The ice in the room would be broken by him. He was a force in the locker room.
Big-name rookies rubbed Siragusa the wrong way because he prided himself on being the hard way. He told them not to park near his car because he would open his door wildly.
Siragusa made rookies fill in the chart above the scale for him.
There is free agency.
• Draft: Grades » | Top picks » | More »
• Coaching changes: Tracking moves »
• 2022 schedule » | Power rankings »
• Barnwell ranks all 32 teams' offseason »
Siragusa spoke on the first season of Hard Knocks. Put 215 lbs. We should freak them out a bit. Today, I lost 900 pounds.
Siragusa endedeared himself to his teammates because of his jokes. Siragusa asked Marvin Lewis what he would do with his snowblowers after he lost out on the Bills head coaching job.
The people were not safe from Siragusa. He brought paint guns to training camp. Billick shot a paintball at a custodian who was on a ladder trying to clean up a paint mess on a second story wall.
Siragusa took out a roll of money from his wallet and handed it to the hotel worker. The custodian had a happy expression on his face.
Peter Boulware said that he was the life of every room he entered.
Siragusa didn't get fined when he drove Rich Gannon into the turf and forced him out of the 2000 AFC championship game. He blamed Phil Simms for getting a $15,000 fine.
In his opinion, Siragusa should've been flagged because he was trying to hurt the other team's quarterback.
Siragusa stood over Simms at a Super Bowl production meeting and told him that he owed him money. Siragusa inquired about the progress of his home being built in New Jersey when Simms said he wouldn't be intimidated.
What do you know about that?
Siragusa said that when you're missing $15,000 worth of shrubs you'll know where they are.
Siragusa went to the hospital with a bruised spine after he was carted off the field.
Adams said that they picked him up and took him to the hospital. I am having tears in my eyes when they take him away. I saw him come back in the game and I was wondering what was happening.
Siragusa decided not to return in the game because he didn't want to let his teammates down. His wise-cracking barbs were more appreciated than his commitment to his teammates.
An accidental fire destroyed Fernando Smith's apartment on Christmas Eve 1999. Siragusa brought a car full of toys and clothes for the children.
The man took care of his teammates. He had a good heart.
He spent his entire signing bonus from the Colts at a bar. He decided to retire at a watering hole during his weekly radio show.
Siragusa said that he had had a lot of fun. I feel like I have had a lot of fun in my career, so I am going to have to pinch myself. They will be very happy if anyone has the same amount of fun in one year as I have.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
